Written Answers Wednesday 16 June 2010

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has to be taken, or information supplied, by successful applicants for contracts under the Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities scheme before they receive (a) part or (b) full payment of the value of their contract.

Richard Lochhead: For rural priorities (RP) capital claims, applicants must submit a capital claim form, ensuring the claim details are accurate, valid and in accordance with their contract. Invoices in support of the claim must be properly receipted as per instructions on the website.

  For annual recurrent claims, applicants need to complete two forms: a Single Application Form declaring all their land and any options on them, and the RP1 form, which records RP-specific claim details, following the published instructions carefully.

  Payment processes and procedures under RP have been established to comply with the detailed financial control requirements of EU regulations.

  Full guidance on the process for annual recurrent and capital claims under RP is available on the RP website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Farmingrural/SRDP/RuralPriorities/Howitworks/ClaimsPayments.

Birds

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33201 by Richard Lochhead on 30 April 2010, whether it recognises the British Ornithologists’ Union as the scientific authority on the status of birds that occur in the United Kingdom.

Roseanna Cunningham: The British Ornithologists Union is one of the scientific authorities on the status of birds that occur in the United Kingdom.

Birds

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33201 by Richard Lochhead on 30 April 2010, whether it accepts The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity definition of non-native species.

Roseanna Cunningham: Yes.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research evidence it has considered in relation to licensing landowners to kill buzzards.

Roseanna Cunningham: The research evidence taken into account includes:

  Allen, D.S., Packer, J.J., Blanchard, C. and Feare, C.J., 2000. Raptors and the rearing of Pheasants: problems and management needs. ADAS Consulting Ltd. Unpublished report to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation.

  Allen, D.S., 2001. Raptors and the rearing of Pheasants, Part II: A preliminary evaluation of techniques to reduce losses of young pheasants to raptors at release pens. ADAS Consulting Ltd. Unpublished report to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation.

  British Association for Shooting & Conservation leaflet. Birds of prey at pheasant release pens.

  Clements, R., 2000. Range expansion of the Common Buzzard in Britain. British Birds, 93: 242-248.

  Clements, R., 2002. The Common Buzzard in Britain: a new population estimate. British Birds, 95: 377-383.

  Cramp, S., 1977. Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Volume II, OUP.

  Forester, R.W., Andrews, I.J., McInerny, C.J., Murray, R.D., McGowan, R.Y., Zonfrillo, B., Betts, M.W., Jardine, D.C. and Grundy, D.S. (Eds), 2007, vol II. The Birds of Scotland. The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, Aberlady.

  Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (formerly GCT), Review of 2003. Fate of released pheasants, page 74-75.

  Harradine, J., Reynolds, N. and Laws, T., 1997. Raptors and gamebirds. A survey of game managers affected by raptors. Wrexham: British Association for Shooting and Conservation.

  Kenward, R.E., 1999. Raptor predation problems and solutions. Journal of Raptor Research, 33(1): 73-75.

  Kenward, R.E., Hall, D.G., Walls, S.S., Hodder, K.H., Pahkala, M., Freeman, S.N. and Simpson, V.R., 2000. The prevalence of non-breeders in raptor populations: evidence from rings, radio-tags and transect surveys. Oikos, 91(2): 271-279.

  Kenward, R.E., Hall, D.G., Walls, S.S., and Hodder, K.H., 2001. Factors affecting predation by buzzards (Buteo buteo) on released pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). Journal of Applied Ecology, 38: 813-822.

  Kenward, R.E., 2002. Management tools for reconciling bird hunting and biodiversity. European Concerted Action within the 5th Framework Program: Reconciling Gamebird Hunting and Biodiversity (REGHAB).

  Lloyd, D.E.B., 1976. Avian predation of reared pheasants. Report to the British Field Sports Society, The Game Conservancy, The RSPB and the Wildfowlers Association of G.B. and Ireland.

  JNCC, 2000. The report of the UK Raptor Working Group.

  Manosa, S., 2002. The conflict between gamebird hunting and raptors in Europe. European Concerted Action within the 5th Framework Program: Reconciling Gamebird Hunting and Biodiversity (REGHAB).

  Park, K.J., Calladine, J.R., Graham, K.E., Stephenson, C.M. and Wernham, C.V., 2005. The Impacts of Predatory Birds on Waders, Songbirds, Gamebirds and Fisheries Interests. A report to Scotland’s Moorland Forum.

  Redpath, S. and Thirgood, S., 1997. Birds of prey and red grouse. London: Stationery Office.

  Reif, V., Jungell, S., Korpimaki, E., Tornberg, R. and Mykra, S., 2004. Numerical response of common buzzards and predation rate of main and alternative prey under fluctuating food conditions. Ann. Zool. Fennici, 41: 599-607.

  Robertson, P.A., 1988. Survival of released pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, in Ireland. Journal of Zoology, 214: 683-695.

  Thompson, D.B.A, Redpath, S.M., Fielding, A.H., Marquiss, M. and Galbraith, C.A., 2003. Birds of prey in a changing environment. Edinburgh: The Stationery Office.

  Walls, S.S. and Kenward, R.E., 1998. Movements of Common Buzzards, Buteo buteo, in early life. Ibis, 140: 561-568.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that any legislative changes that would allow landowners to kill buzzards would comply with EU tests and regulations.

Roseanna Cunningham: No legislative change is required to allow the control of predatory birds under licence.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list ongoing research projects looking at alleged damage by raptors to other birds.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Langholm Demonstration Project is the main ongoing research project.

  This topic has been looked at several times and was reviewed by Park et al in 2005 The Impacts of Predatory Birds on Waders, Songbirds, Gamebirds and Fisheries Interests (report to Moorland Forum) and 2008 Impacts of birds of prey on game birds in the UK: a review (Ibis 150 (Suppl. 1), 9–26).

  Wider research that is available includes, spatial and temporal associations between recovering populations of common raven Corvus corax and British upland wader populations. Arjun Amar et al 2010 Journal of Applied Ecology is relevant, as is the BTO/Songbird Survival research - Population change of avian predators and grey squirrels in England: is there evidence for an impact on avian prey populations? Newson S et al. 2010 Journal of Applied Ecology.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to the taxpayer has been of undertaking research into alleged damage to other birds by raptors.

Roseanna Cunningham: Public sector funding contributions to recent research into impact of raptors on other birds is as follows:

  Racing Pigeons: Impact of Raptor Predation CSL report to SNH & SHU 2004 £122,000.

  Sparrowhawks & Racing Pigeons - SG/SHU/SNH Research Trial 2009 c£25,000.

  The Impacts of Predatory Birds on Waders, Songbirds, Gamebirds and Fisheries Interests. Moorland Forum Report (2005) £24,000.

  Langholm Moor Demonstration Project (2007-date) - £357,000 (including £52,500 from Natural England).

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether research evidence supports the claims that raptors cause damage to game birds.

Roseanna Cunningham: Yes, available research does confirm that raptors cause damage to game birds.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what key tests are applied before an agricultural licence is granted to kill buzzards.

Roseanna Cunningham: No licence to kill buzzards for this purpose has been granted. However any application to carry out licensed control of avian predators to prevent serious damage to livestock would have to meet two tests as set out in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981:

  that the proposed licensed control will prevent serious damage, and

  that there is no satisfactory alternative to licensed control of the predator.

  The Scottish Government would also not grant any licence that threatened the conservation status of the species concerned. Further detailed guidance has been discussed with stakeholders. This process has not been completed.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering changing the key tests applied to the granting of agricultural licences to kill buzzards.

Roseanna Cunningham: There is no change planned in relation to any of the tests used in considering applications to control predatory birds to prevent serious damage to livestock.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what alternatives to killing buzzards it is considering in relation to changes to agricultural licences.

Roseanna Cunningham: Any guidance should contain a list outlining alternatives solutions that must be shown to be unsatisfactory before any licence can be considered. This would include: increasing cover in release pens, changes to pen construction or placement, disrupting predator flight lines, the use of deterrents and diversionary feeding. The detail of any further guidelines is yet to be finalised.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that stakeholders were given adequate time to respond to its drafts of guidance on how to apply for licences to kill protected birds for the protection of game birds released in order to be shot and how the relevant timescale complied with its guidance on the management of consultations.

Roseanna Cunningham: The guidance is being drafted in accordance with discussions at stakeholder meetings and supporting correspondence. Stakeholders have been given adequate time to contribute to this process. Discussions have been ongoing since October 2009.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes were made, following consultation, to its drafts of guidance on how to apply for licences to kill protected birds for the protection of game birds released in order to be shot; how these changes related to consultees’ comments; what analysis it did in relation to the comments and changes, and how this approach complied with its guidance on the management of consultations.

Roseanna Cunningham: The guidance seeks to clarify how the Scottish Government will operate a particular aspect of existing legislation. A wide range of comments from stakeholders have been considered, but ultimately, the content of the guidance will be the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the conservation status of the goshawk is in Scotland.

Roseanna Cunningham: Overall the species status is unfavourable due to population growth and distribution of birds being limited despite suitable habitat being available.

  Best current estimates date from 2007 and place the breeding population at a minimum of 130 pairs (Birds in Scotland), and 136 territories (Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme Report).

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the conservation status of the sparrowhawk is in Scotland.

Roseanna Cunningham: The overall conservation status of the Sparrowhawk is favourable.

  The sparrowhawk is one of the most widespread and common raptors in Scotland, although there has been some suggestion of a decline since the 1980s within conifer forest nesting pairs due to changes in age structure of the forest estate.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that buzzards are subject to deliberate ill-treatment in areas where pheasants are released for shooting.

Roseanna Cunningham: Buzzards are widespread and frequently the victims of wildlife crime. It is likely that at least some of this wildlife crime will be associated with pheasant rearing.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, should large numbers of licence applications to kill protected predatory birds meet guidance requirements for approval, what contingency plans exist to prevent a reduction in the population of the protected species being killed.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, should large numbers of licence applications to kill protected predatory birds meet guidance requirements for approval, what contingency plans exist to prevent a reduction in the capacity of the population to continue its expansion to previous natural levels.

Roseanna Cunningham: We would not expect a large number of applications to be approved. No application would be approved that threatens the conservation status of the species concerned. The detail of any further guidelines is yet to be finalised.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans exist should evidence of illegal killing arise in or near sites subject to applications for licences to kill predatory birds in order to protect game birds released to be shot.

Roseanna Cunningham: The detail of any further guidelines is yet to be finalised but it should be a condition of any licence that it could be withdrawn if there was evidence of illegal activity.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of released pheasant poults survive to such an age that they are shot as part of a commercial operation.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it is aware of regarding the total number of pheasant poults released each year.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. UK figures quoted by the GWCT state that 35 million pheasants are released each year:

  http://www.gwct.org.uk/research__surveys/species_research/birds/pheasant/default.asp.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value is of a pheasant poult at release age.

Roseanna Cunningham: The British Association for Shooting and Conservation estimate that the average price in 2010 for a pheasant poult, assuming that release age means the point at which the birds are put into a release pen at around six to eight weeks of age, is £3.25-3.75.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what average income shooting businesses receive per pheasant shot by their clients.

Roseanna Cunningham: The British Association for Shooting and Conservation estimate that shooting businesses that charge for pheasant shooting would expect anything from £25-40 per bird, plus VAT if applicable, assuming that this would be driven pheasant shooting. A number of these businesses could also offer clients walked-up shooting and it could be that the average cost per pheasant for walked-up shooting would be around £15-20.

  The majority of pheasants shot in Scotland each year are shot on driven shoots.

Birds

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33201 by Richard Lochhead on 30 April 2010, what particular species of pheasant it considers to be naturally occurring in Scotland and what the taxonomic basis is for this view.

Roseanna Cunningham: The common pheasant (phasianus colchicus) has been breeding in the wild in Scotland for hundreds of years.

Carers

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when The Carers Strategy for Scotland will be published.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has been developing the carers and young carers strategy in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, working closely with health boards, carer organisations and other stakeholders. We will publish the strategy once we have agreed it with COSLA, our strategy partners.

Civil Servants

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants were eligible to receive a bonus for reducing the cost of public services without affecting service outcomes in the last financial year for which figures are available.

John Swinney: This information is not available. All staff in the Scottish Government have a range of objectives which are agreed on an individual basis and against which their performance is assessed. Any performance payment which may be due will depend on an individual’s performance across all of their objectives.

Enterprise

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent findings of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, how it will contribute to raising the rate of business creation.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has put in place a number of support measures to assist businesses and individuals under the Scottish Economic Recovery Plan. The Scottish Government has always been clear about the importance of creating a supportive business environment and this includes the extension of our successful Small Business Bonus Scheme, which is already helping companies through the economic downturn by allowing them to make vital savings and re-invest in the business. In Scotland, new businesses can access advice on a range of issues from Business Gateway, which is now delivered across the whole of Scotland by local authorities. In addition, the Scottish Government Determined to Succeed strategy aims to develop enterprise and employability skills of all young people, giving them a "can do, will do" attitude. Through Determined to Succeed we are changing the culture in our schools, embedding enterprise and entrepreneurship into young people - building for the future.

Environment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure the future sustainability of the small isles.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government recognises the unique challenges that face Scotland’s rural and island communities - including those on the Small Isles of Muck, Eigg, Rum and Canna - and is committed to ensuring that appropriate support is provided to enable them to seize the opportunities available and allow them to take control of their own development going forward.

  Support is available through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), a £1.5 billion programme to develop all parts of rural Scotland. The LEADER scheme is one part of the SRDP. It provides a bottom up approach to delivery of innovative approaches to rural problems. LEADER Local Action Groups are based in 95% of rural Scotland and cover all of the remote rural areas. Local Action Groups are a local partnership of local public agencies working in the rural field and private socio-economic individuals or businesses.

  Further to this, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the Scottish Government’s economic and community development agency for the Highlands and Islands, has a Strengthening Communities remit, which recognises that social and economic development are complementary in achieving growth in remote, sparsely populated areas. HIE’s Growth at the Edge/Fas aig an Oir initiative is undertaken across all of HIE’s fragile communities and involves a higher rate of financial assistance, Community Account Management, assistance to social enterprises and voluntary organisations with aspirations to grow into social enterprises, and selective assistance to small private businesses which have clear community as well as economic benefit.

  Schools, provide a strong focal point for the whole community, and are a major factor in ensuring sustainability in remote areas. Local access to educational opportunities plays an important role in creating a wealthier and fairer Scotland, particularly in island communities where the range of opportunities and services available locally may already be less than is available in urban areas. That is why the Scottish Government has legislated to update and strengthen the statutory consultation process required when education authorities are considering changes to their school estate and provides for authorities in rural areas to have a special regard to prescribed factors before proposing the closure of one of their schools. This effectively creates a legislative presumption against the closure of a rural school by making such a decision one of last resort and supports viable and sustainable rural communities.

Forestry

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of tree planting have been approved in 2010-11 under the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

Richard Lochhead: There are two elements of the Scotland Rural Development Programme under which woodland creation may be funded.

  For Rural Priorities, the amount of tree planting approved under woodland creation options is 7,500 hectares in 2010, and 1,027 hectares in 2011. The figure for 2011 is expected to rise significantly, through the two remaining assessment rounds this year, and the ongoing approvals process for forestry cases.

  Under Land Managers’ Options’ small scale woodland creation option, applications have been submitted for 89.15 hectares of tree planting, to take place between May 2010 and May 2011.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the UK Forestry Standard is applied to the location of new woodland on (a) undesignated and (b) designated wildlife sites.

Roseanna Cunningham: The UK Forestry Standard, and its associated guidelines, sets standards for the planning, design and management of new woodland. It applies throughout Scotland to undesignated sites and to designated wildlife sites (where, depending upon the nature of the designation, special considerations may apply). The standard is used to assess proposals for new woodlands that are submitted for determination under environmental impact assessment legislation, for proposals for grant aid under the Scotland Rural Development Programme and for proposals on the national forest estate. In addition, proposals are subject to public consultation, and local authorities are encouraged to develop forest and woodland strategies to guide the location of new woodland.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued by Scotland’s Environment and Rural Services (SEARS) on the location of new woodland away from sites that are important for (a) biodiversity and (b) the historic environment.

Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) is the SEARS organisation responsible for providing guidance on woodland in relation to biodiversity and the historic environment. Guidance on the location of new woodland includes the Scottish Forestry Strategy which identifies conserving and enhancing biodiversity and protecting the historic environment as key priorities; the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan; "Woods for Nature" which sets out Forestry Commission Scotland’s biodiversity programme for 2008-11; the UK Forestry Standard and its associated guidelines which cover biodiversity and the historic environment, and other documents, which include Scotland’s Woodlands and the Historic Environment, and Historic Environment Information and Advice for Forest and Woodland Managers in Scotland . FCS staff also have access to information from other SEARS partners and government bodies, including SNH and Historic Scotland.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it applies the UK Forestry Standard to woodland creation on agricultural land.

Roseanna Cunningham: The UK Forestry Standard, and its associated guidelines, sets standards for the planning, design and management of new woodland throughout Scotland, including on agricultural land. The standard is used to assess proposals for new woodlands that are submitted for determination under environmental impact assessment legislation, for proposals for grant aid under the Scotland Rural Development Programme and for proposals on the national forest estate. In addition, proposals are subject to public consultation, and local authorities are encouraged to develop forest and woodland strategies to guide the location of new woodland.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much new woodland and forestry planting has been carried out without land management grants since 2007.

Roseanna Cunningham: It is estimated that up to 600 hectares of trees (most of which are Christmas trees) have been planted without grant-aid since 2007.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training has been received on UK Forestry Standard requirements and compliance by non-Forestry Commission Scotland staff who are acting as Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) case officers.

Roseanna Cunningham: Applications to the SRDP’s Rural Priorities which relate to forestry are normally allocated to Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) staff. FCS staff also advise and assist non-FCS staff in respect of any woodland elements in other cases.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to revise the guidance to land managers on forest planning, contained in Forestry Commission Scotland’s publication, Forest Design Planning .

Roseanna Cunningham: The Forestry Commission’s publication, Forest Design Planning – A Guide to Good Practice , will be considered for revision when the current review of the UK Forestry Standard and its associated guidelines has been completed. The review is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

Forestry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of Forestry Commission Scotland’s research information notes on consenting new planting.

Roseanna Cunningham: New woodland creation proposals are considered in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard and its associated Guidelines, which are currently under review. Forestry Commission Scotland’s (FCS) recently revised guidance on Environmental Impact Assessment is also taken into account. In addition, FCS has recently published an advice note entitled The Right Tree in the Right Place – Planning for Forestry and Woodlands,  which gives practical advice to Planning Authorities. Research Information Notes, which are published by Forest Research, can provide helpful scientific guidance when assessing proposals.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of new tree-planting it is planning to undertake in the next 12 months.

Roseanna Cunningham: There are 7,500 hectares approved for planting in 2010-11, and we expect that figure to increase, aided by the significant improvements we have made to the rates of grant available through the SRDP and by streamlining administration. In addition, Forestry Commission Scotland’s (FCS) repositioning programme will facilitate more planting (around 1,000 hectares) on the national forest estate, while a pilot scheme being developed by FCS to lease land from farmers also aims to increase planting levels.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what areas the 7,500 hectares of new trees referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Forestry in the Low Carbon Economy conference on 2 June 2010 will be planted.

Roseanna Cunningham: The approved planting is distributed throughout Scotland. The main regions are Highland and Dumfries and Galloway; significant amounts are also planned for Borders, Grampian and Argyll.

Forestry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the planting of 7,500 hectares of new trees in the next 12 months, as referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Forestry in the Low Carbon Economy conference on 2 June 2010, will be financed.

Roseanna Cunningham: The new woodland planting will be funded through the Scottish Rural Development Programme and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Fuel Poverty

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32443 by Alex Neil on 25 March 2010, what action it will take to reduce the number of households considered to be in fuel poverty.

Alex Neil: Since 2003, we have seen a rise in fuel poverty levels as a result of the continuing upward trend in energy prices and the effect of the recession. Energy prices are dictated by markets and regulation of energy companies is reserved to Westminster. I will continue to keep up the pressure to ensure these companies do all in their power to protect their most vulnerable customers from the effects of these rises.

  In the years ahead, we will continue to work to maximise the impact our Energy Assistance Package has on reducing fuel poverty levels and ensure it builds on the successes of its first year. As part of our continuing efforts to address fuel poverty I have asked the independent Fuel Poverty Forum to review the first year of EAP and I look forward to receiving its report and the recommendations it contains.

  In addition, I am working with the energy companies to maximise the impact of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) expenditure in Scotland.

Further Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers (a) biodiversity and (b) the natural heritage to have intrinsic value.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government considers that there are two important ways in which the Scottish people derive benefit from biodiversity and the natural heritage. In the first place, significant value is derived from user benefits, ranging from ecosystem services such as water purification and nutrient recycling, to the pleasure provided by visiting natural areas and seeing plants and animals. In addition, although it less readily susceptible to quantification or analysis, we recognise that for a variety of moral or precautionary reasons, many people also place significant value on the simple existence of natural heritage and biodiversity.

Further Education

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether national targets on student retention figures are set for further education institutions and, if so, how these are measured.

Keith Brown: The performance of colleges, and any related targets, are matters for the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the chief executive to write to the member with this information.

Further Education

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many further education institutions have had to reduce their bursary payments to students due to higher than expected retention figures.

Michael Russell: Colleges are autonomous bodies responsible for managing their own affairs, and for decisions on who receives support and at what level, subject to limits set by the Scottish Funding Council. Information on how different colleges apply their discretion to these matters is not routinely held by ministers.

Health

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the decision to centralise haematology services to Monklands Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: I approved the arrangements for haematology services at the Lanarkshire Cancer Centre at Monklands Hospital in February 2008 when I approved the board’s proposals to maintain accident and emergency services on the three main hospital sites. I have no plans to review this decision.

Health

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many recommendations it has received from patients regarding the decision to centralise haematology services to Monklands Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: No recommendations have been received.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether construction work on the new Dalkeith Medical Centre has started and when it will open for patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: Work is expected to start on the new Dalkeith Medical Centre towards the end of June 2010 with completion planned for June 2011. The operational date for the new centre will be July 2011.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will assist Scottish Natural Heritage in providing housing in order to enable more people and young families to live and work on the Isle of Rhum.

Alex Neil: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) transferred the land and assets on Rum to the Isle of Rum Community Trust (IRCT) in two phases, March 2009 and March 2010. IRCT are now responsible for developing economic activity on the island.

  The priorities for Scottish Government funding towards the provision of affordable housing is determined by the relevant local authority, in this case the Highland Council, through their published local housing strategy.

  Consequently should IRCT wish to utilise any Scottish Government grants, first contact should be with Highland Council in order to assess the priority for housing investment in Rum, based on key indicators, including housing demand and need.

Housing

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the development of a trusted trader framework.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government consulted on proposals for a trusted trader framework in 2008, in recognition of the potential this initiative has to incentivise home owners to invest in their homes.

  We have been working with key stakeholders to take this work forward and are currently conducting a short internal review to ensure that our proposals will achieve maximum added value for consumers in the current economic climate.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average level of Housing Association Grant was in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009.

Alex Neil: The average level of Housing Association Grant for housing association rented units in these years was as follows:

  2007-08 - £85,390

  2008-09 - £78,441

  2009-10 - £77,263.

  Figures for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are available on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/AHIP0809Report.

  Figures for 2009-10 will be included in the 2009-10 Affordable Housing Investment Programme out-turn report when published.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties are currently subject to secondary stock transfer.

Alex Neil: To date, 3,024 units have transferred through secondary stock transfer, and another 1,036 will transfer by end June 2010. A further 16,891 units are currently in the transfer programme.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary housing stock transfers have been subject to ballots since 2006.

Alex Neil: Fourteen ballots have taken place in secondary housing stock transfers in Glasgow since 2006.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the result has been of each secondary housing stock transfer ballot, including turnout figures, since 2006.

Alex Neil: 1. Fourteen secondary housing stock transfer ballots have taken place since 2006 and details of each are listed below.

  2. Ballots where tenants voted in favour and transfer has taken place:

  

 RSL
 No of units
 Date of Ballot
 % Vote in Favour
 Turnout %
 Date of Transfer


 Ardenglen
 285
 Nov/Dec 2008
 89.2
 59.7
 March 2009


 Cassiltoun
 526
 Nov/Dec 2008
 93.7
 50.6
 March 2009


 Parkhead
 68
 Nov/Dec 2008
 95.2
 61.8
 March 2009


 Shettleston
 728
 Nov/Dec 2008
 86.6
 55.2
 March 2009


 Glasgow West(Hyndland)
 127
 Nov/Dec 2008
 83.8
 76.9
 July 2009


 Provanhall
 195
 Mar/Apr 2009
 88.3
 53.4
 July 2009


 Cernach
 420
 Nov/Dec 2009
 83.6
 57.0
 March 2010


 Queens Cross (Hamiltonhill)
 456
 Nov/Dec 2009
 83.9
 43.9
 March 2010


 Total
 3,024
 
 
 
 



  3. In one ballot, tenants voted against transfer:

  

 RSL
 No of Units
 Date of Ballot
 % vote in favour
 Turnout%


 Pineview
 91
 Nov/Dec 2009
 31.25
 53.0



  4. Ballots where tenants voted in favour and transfer has not yet taken place:

  

 RSL
 No of Units
 Date of Ballot
 % vote in favour
 Turnout %
 Projected Date of Transfer


 Blairtummock
 177
 Apr/May 2010
 75.2
 62.8
 28 June 2010


 Cathcart
 283
 Apr/May 2010
 83.1
 63.1
 28 June 2010


 Rosehill Co-op(Levernwood)
 69
 Apr/May 2010
 91.3
 65.7
 28 June 2010


 Thenew(Holmbyre)
 119
 Apr/May 2010
 77.1
 41.0
 28 June 2010


 Wellhouse
 388
 Apr/May 2010
 86.6
 49.4
 28 June 2010


 Total
 1,036

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what registered social landlords were involved in each secondary housing stock transfer since 2006.

Alex Neil: A list of the registered social landlords involved in each secondary housing stock transfer since 2006 is provided in the following table.

  Completed Transfers

  

 RSL
 No of Units
 Date of Transfer


 Ardenglen
 284
 30 March 2009


 Cassiltoun
 529
 30 March 2009


 Parkhead
 68
 30 March 2009


 Shettleston
 794
 30 March 2009


 Glasgow West (Hyndland)
 127
 27 July 2009


 Provanhall
 195
 27 July 2009


 Cernach
 473
 28 March 2010


 Queens Cross (Hamiltonhill)
 554
 28 March 2010


 Total
 3,024

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties were transferred in each secondary stock transfer since 2006.

Alex Neil: A list of the completed secondary stock transfers from Glasgow Housing Association to local housing organisations and the number of properties contained in each is listed below.

  Completed Transfers

  

 RSL
 No of Units
 Date of Transfer


 Ardenglen
 284
 30 March 2009


 Cassiltoun
 529
 30 March 2009


 Parkhead
 68
 30 March 2009


 Shettleston
 794
 30 March 2009


 Glasgow West (Hyndland)
 127
 27 July 2009


 Provanhall
 195
 27 July 2009


 Cernach
 473
 28 March 2010


 Queens Cross (Hamiltonhill)
 554
 28 March 2010


 Total
 3,024

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary housing stock transfers have taken place since 2006 that were not subject to ballot.

Alex Neil: No secondary housing stock transfers have taken place since 2006 that were not subject to ballot.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided to assist in the consultant process relating to proposed secondary stock transfer ballots in each year since 2006.

Alex Neil: Glasgow Housing Association provides funding from its own budgets to manage the second stage transfer process, including consultation. Scottish Government has provided Seedcorn funding to support local housing organisations to develop proposals for second stage transfer.

  

 2006-07
 nil


 2007-08
£109,922


 2008-09
£628,012


 2009-10
£427,168


 Total
£1,165,102

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33069 by Richard Lochhead on 6 April 2010, for what reason the report, Entanglement of Minke Whales in Scottish Waters: an investigation into occurrence, causes and mitigation , has not been finalised and published.

Richard Lochhead: The Report entitled Entanglement of minke whales in Scottish watersL an investigation into occurrence, causes and mitigation was published on 14 June 2010. It concluded that there is no reason at present to suppose that entanglement poses a threat to the conservation status of minke whales in the region but Marine Scotland is continuing to monitor the situation. The report can be found on the Sea Mammal Research Unit website via the following link http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/ .

Marine Environment

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which directive takes precedence when there is an overlap between the EU marine strategy and water framework directives in relation to coastal waters.

Roseanna Cunningham: Article 3(1)(b) of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive sets out that it only applies to coastal waters in so far as particular aspects of their environmental status are not already addressed by the Water Framework Directive or other European legislation. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive will apply to coastal waters for other aspects of Good Environmental Status. The Draft European Commission Decision on criteria and methodological standards for Good Environmental Status notes that the assessment and methodologies should take into account and, where appropriate, be based on those applicable under existing European legislation, including the Water Framework Directive. Links between the two Directives will be explored further during the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Ministerial Visits

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the Central Fife parliamentary constituency by each cabinet secretary in (i) February 2009, (ii) March 2009, (iii) April 2009, (iv) May 2009, (v) June 2009, (vi) July 2009, (vii) August 2009, (viii) September 2009, (ix) October 2009, (x) November 2009, (xi) December 2009, (xii) January 2010, (xiii) February 2010, (xiv) March 2010, (xv) April 2010 and (xvi) May 2010.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the Dunfermline East parliamentary constituency by each cabinet secretary in (i) February 2009, (ii) March 2009, (iii) April 2009, (iv) May 2009, (v) June 2009, (vi) July 2009, (vii) August 2009, (viii) September 2009, (ix) October 2009, (x) November 2009, (xi) December 2009, (xii) January 2010, (xiii) February 2010, (xiv) March 2010, (xv) April 2010 and (xvi) May 2010.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the Dunfermline West parliamentary constituency by each cabinet secretary in (i) February 2009, (ii) March 2009, (iii) April 2009, (iv) May 2009, (v) June 2009, (vi) July 2009, (vii) August 2009, (viii) September 2009, (ix) October 2009, (x) November 2009, (xi) December 2009, (xii) January 2010, (xiii) February 2010, (xiv) March 2010, (xv) April 2010 and (xvi) May 2010.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the Kirkcaldy parliamentary constituency by each cabinet secretary in (i) February 2009, (ii) March 2009, (iii) April 2009, (iv) May 2009, (v) June 2009, (vi) July 2009, (vii) August 2009, (viii) September 2009, (ix) October 2009, (x) November 2009, (xi) December 2009, (xii) January 2010, (xiii) February 2010, (xiv) March 2010, (xv) April 2010 and (xvi) May 2010.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the North East Fife parliamentary constituency by each cabinet secretary in (i) February 2009, (ii) March 2009, (iii) April 2009, (iv) May 2009, (v) June 2009, (vi) July 2009, (vii) August 2009, (viii) September 2009, (ix) October 2009, (x) November 2009, (xi) December 2009, (xii) January 2010, (xiii) February 2010, (xiv) March 2010, (xv) April 2010 and (xvi) May 2010.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the North Tayside parliamentary constituency by each cabinet secretary in (i) February 2009, (ii) March 2009, (iii) April 2009, (iv) May 2009, (v) June 2009, (vi) July 2009, (vii) August 2009, (viii) September 2009, (ix) October 2009, (x) November 2009, (xi) December 2009, (xii) January 2010, (xiii) February 2010, (xiv) March 2010, (xv) April 2010 and (xvi) May 2010.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the Ochil parliamentary constituency by each cabinet secretary in (i) February 2009, (ii) March 2009, (iii) April 2009, (iv) May 2009, (v) June 2009, (vi) July 2009, (vii) August 2009, (viii) September 2009, (ix) October 2009, (x) November 2009, (xi) December 2009, (xii) January 2010, (xiii) February 2010, (xiv) March 2010, (xv) April 2010 and (xvi) May 2010.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the Perth parliamentary constituency by each cabinet secretary in (i) February 2009, (ii) March 2009, (iii) April 2009, (iv) May 2009, (v) June 2009, (vi) July 2009, (vii) August 2009, (viii) September 2009, (ix) October 2009, (x) November 2009, (xi) December 2009, (xii) January 2010, (xiii) February 2010, (xiv) March 2010, (xv) April 2010 and (xvi) May 2010.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the Stirling parliamentary constituency by each cabinet secretary in (i) February 2009, (ii) March 2009, (iii) April 2009, (iv) May 2009, (v) June 2009, (vi) July 2009, (vii) August 2009, (viii) September 2009, (ix) October 2009, (x) November 2009, (xi) December 2009, (xii) January 2010, (xiii) February 2010, (xiv) March 2010, (xv) April 2010 and (xvi) May 2010.

John Swinney: The information requested is listed in the following tables.

  John Swinney MSP

  Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth

  

 Constituency
 Date
 Location


 Perth
 23 February 2009
 Inveralmond House


 Stirling
 2 March 2009
 Dunblane Hydro, Dunblane 


 North East Fife
 6 March 2009
 Fairmont, St Andrews


 North Tayside
 6 March 2009
 Little Dunkeld, Perthshire


 North Tayside
 16 March 2009
 A9 Bankfoot Junction


 North Tayside
 7 April 2009
 The School House, Guildtown, Perthshire


 North Tayside
 10 April 2009
 Freshwater Laboratory, Pitlochry, Perthshire


 Perth
 11 May 2009
 Pitheavlis, Perth


 Perth
 19 May 2009
 Perth Concert Hall, Perth 


 Stirling
 3 June 2009
 Stirling Castle


 Ochil
 8 June 2009
 Stirling Management Centre


 North Tayside
 13 June 2009
 Cortachy Castle, Cortachy, Angus


 Dunfermline West
 15 June 2009
 Victoria Mill, Dunfermline


 Perth
 15 June 2009
Gleneagles Hotel Auchterarder, Perthshire 


 Stirling
 15 June 2009
 Stirling Castle


 Dunfermline West
 30 June 2009
 Tulliallan Castle


 Perth
 3 July 2009
 Perth and Kinross Council, Perth


 North Tayside
 17 July 2009
 A9 Bankfoot Junction


 North Tayside
 28 August 2009
 A9 Bankfoot Junction


 Perth
 28 September 2009
 Crieff Hydro, Crieff


 Stirling
 28 September 2009
 Stirling Council, Stirling


 Stirling
 28 September 2009
 Erskine Court, Stirling


 Dunfermline West
 11 November 2009
 Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline


 North Tayside
 28 November 2009
 Wellmeadow, Blairgowrie


 Perth
 25 February 2010
 Crieff Hydro, Perthshire


 North East Fife
 5 March 2010
 Fairmont, St Andrews


 Perth
 8 March 2010
 A9 Loaninghead Junction, Gleneagles


 Dunfermline East
 22 March 2010
 Recycle Fife, Lochgelly


 Ochil
 24 March 2010
 Stirling Management Centre


 North Tayside
 16 May 2010
 Acarsaid Hotel, Pitlochry



  Fiona Hyslop MSP

  Previous Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning

  

 Constituency
 Date
 Location


 Perth
 6 February 2009
 Dunning Primary School


 North East Fife
 5 March 2009
 Fairmont, St Andrews


 Stirling
 23 March 2009
 Enterprise House


 Ochil
 26 March 2009
 Stirling Management Centre


 Stirling
 2 April 2009
 Raploch Community Campus


 Perth
 22 April 2009
 Perth Concert Hall


 Perth
 29 April 2009
 Hilton Dunkeld House Hotel


 Dunfermline West
 5 May 2009
 Carnegie Conference Centre


 Stirling
 13 May 2009
 The Tollbooth, Jail Wynd


 Perth
 3 June 2009
 Salutation Hotel


 Dunfermline West
 5 June 2009
 Carnegie Conference Centre


 North Tayside
 13 June 2009
 Cortachy Castle


 Perth
 23 June 2009
 Perth Concert Hall


 Perth
 29 July 2009
 Council Buildings


 Ochil
 5 August 2009
 Stirling Management Centre


 Ochil
 11 September 2009
 Stirling Management Centre



  Mike Russell MSP

  Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning

  

 Constituency
 Date
 Location


 Dunfermline West
 2 December 2009
 Inverkeithing Primary School


 Ochil
 27 January 2010
 Fossoway Primary School


 Stirling
 2 February 2010
 Dunblane Hydro


 Stirling
 1 March 2010
 Balfron High School


 North East Fife
 4 March 2010
 Fairmont Hotel


 North East Fife
 5 March 2010
 St Andrews university


 Dunfermline West
 6 March 2010
 Carnegie Conference Centre


 Dunfermline East
 20 April 2010
 University of Abertay


 North Tayside
 28 April 2010
 Hilton Dunkeld House Hotel


 Dunfermline West
 4 May 2010
 Carnegie College


 Ochil
 19 May 2010
 Stirling Management Centre



  Nicola Sturgeon MSP

  Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well Being

  

 Constituency
 Date
 Location


 Perth 
 3 March 2009
 Perth Royal Infirmary


 Stirling 
 5 May 2009
 Carseview House, Castle Business Park


 Stirling 
 9 September 2009
 Stirling Royal Infirmary


 Dunfermline West 
 22 September 2009
 Queen Margaret Hospital


 Stirling 
 1 October 2009
 Stirling Royal Infirmary


 Ochil
 17 January 2010
 Rachel House


 Dunfermline West 
 18 January 2010
 Lynnbank Hospital


 Dunfermline West 
 26 January 2010
 Queen Margaret Hospital


 North East Fife
 27 January 2010
 Madras House


 Ochil 
 9 February 2010
 Stirling Management Centre


 Perth
 23 February 2010
 Perth Concert Hall


 Dunfermline West
 19 April 2010
 Carnegie College 


 Stirling
 29 February 2009
 Airth Castle



  Richard Lochhead MSP

  Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment

  

 Constituency
 Date
 Location


 Perth
 26 February 2009
 Crieff Hydro Hotel


 Dunfermline West
 5 March 2009
 Keavil Hotel, Dunfermline


 North Tayside
 11 March 2009
 Battleby Centre, Redgorton


 North Tayside
 31 March 2009
 Moolie’s Farm, Meigle


 Ochil
 2 April 2009
 Loch Leven’s Larder, Kinross


 Dunfermline West
 14 May 2009
 David Sands Store, Dunfermline


 Ochil
 8 June 2009
 Stirling Management Centre


 Stirling
 11 June 2009
 Buchanan Arms, Drymen


 North Tayside
 5 September 2009
 Atholl Estates, Blair Atholl


 North Tayside
 25 September 2009
 Perth Racecourse


 Stirling
 29 September 2009
 Keep Scotland Beautiful, Stirling


 Perth
 17 November 2009
 Perth and Kinross Council Chambers


 North Tayside
 24 November 2009
 Battleby Centre, Redgorton


 Perth
 24 November 2009
 West Carse Hall, Perth


 North Tayside
 1 December 2009
 Culfargie Estates Ltd Farm, Balbeggie


 Perth
 1 December 2009
 Huntingtower Hotel, Perth


 North Tayside
 8 January 2010
 Parkhead Farm, Blairgowrie


 Stirling
 1 February 2010
 Stirling Agricultural Centre


 North East Fife
 18 February 2010
 Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews


 North East Fife
 19 Feb2010
 Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews


 Perth
 4 March 2010
 Crieff Hydro Hotel


 Stirling
 17 March 2010
 Ben More Farm, Crianlarich


 Dunfermline East
 23 March 2010
 Inverkeithing High School


 Stirling
 14 April 2010
 Blair Drummond Safari Park


 Perth
 27 April 2010
 Perth Grammar School



  Kenny MacAskill MSP

  Cabinet Secretary for Justice

  

 Constituency
 Date
 Location


 Stirling
 28 February 2009
 Dunblane Hydro


 North East Fife
 25 March 2009
 Viewforth, Buckhaven 


 North East Fife
 31 March 2009
 Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews 


 Ochil
 2 April 2009
 Stirling Management Centre 


 Central Fife
 20 April 2009
 Fife Constabulary, Glenrothes 


 North Tayside
 18 May 2009
 Scottish Liqueur Centre Bankfoot, Perth 


 Dunfermline West
 1 June 2009
 Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle 


 Dunfermline West
 22 June 2009
 Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle


 Kirkcaldy
 10 July 2009
 Fife Council Chambers, Kirkcaldy 


 Ochil
 11 July 2009
 Tufhills Complex Kinross


 Stirling
 14 July 2009
 Duncarron Fort, North Lanarkshire


 Ochil
 16 July 2009
 Apex Scotland, Alloa 


 Stirling
 30 July 2009
 Her Majesty’s Prison, Stirling


 Stirling
 30 July 2009
 Stirling Sheriff Court Viewfield Place


 Dunfermline West
 20 Oct2009
 Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle


 Stirling
 20 Oct2009
 Her Majesty’s Prison Cornton Vale, Stirling


 North Tayside
 22 Oct2009
 Her Majesty’s Prison Noranside, Forfar


 Dunfermline East
 29 Oct2009
 Kelty Community Centre, Kelty 


 North Tayside
 29 Oct2009
 Fishers Hotel, Pitlochry 


 Perth
 29 Oct2009
 Crieff Hydro Hotel, Crieff 


 Perth
 10 November 2009
 Castlebank Treatment Centre, Auchterarder 


 Dunfermline West
 13 November 2009
 Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle


 Stirling
 9 December 2009
 Dunblane Hydro Hotel, Dunblane


 Central Fife
 14 December 2009
 Fife Police Headquarters, Glenrothes


 Dunfermline West
 17 December 2009
 Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle


 Dunfermline West
 7 January 2010
 Sheltered Housing Complex, Dunfermline 


 Stirling
 11 January 2010
 Kings Knot Lay by


 Stirling
 18 January 2010
 Cromlix House, Dunblane 


 Dunfermline West
 3 February 2010
 Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle


 Stirling
 28 February 2010
 Dunblane Hydro Hotel, Dunblane 


 Central Fife
 12 March 2010
 Fife Police Headquarters, Glenrothes


 Dunfermline West
 17 March 2010
 Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle


 Dunfermline East
 30 March 2010
 Scottish Scout Headquarters, Hillend


 Dunfermline West
 30 March 2010
 Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle


 Perth
 31 March 2010
 Her Majesty’s Prison, Perth


 Stirling
 28 May 2010
 Dunblane Hydro Hotel, Dunblane

NHS Staff

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what travel impact assessments it has been provided with in relation to the centralising of haematology services to Monklands Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: No impact assessments have been provided.

  I understand from NHS Lanarkshire that travel and transport matters were consulted on as part of the board’s proposals "A picture of Health".

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued guidance on NHS vacancy management.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards have fully delegated authority over employment matters, including vacancy management. We have not issued guidance on this issue.

Public Sector

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the annual cost of non-departmental public bodies and government agencies as of May (a) 2007 and (b) 2010.

John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 51073).

Public Sector Pay

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees and in which posts in each (a) police force, (b) NHS board, (c) local authority, (d) quango, (e) Scottish Government directorate and (f) any other taxpayer-funded organisation are paid more than (i) the First Minister’s combined salary and (ii) an MSP’s salary.

John Swinney: Some of this information is already in the public domain.

  Information on the numbers of police officers by grade and the pay ranges for each grade is available on the Scottish Government website.

  In relation to NHS boards, tables showing the numbers of staff earning £50,000 and over (in bands of £10,000) are available from health boards’ annual accounts which are published on health boards’ individual websites.

  Pay for local government employees is a matter for local authorities and the information is not held centrally.

  Information on public body chief executives, chairs and members is available on the Scottish Government website.

  There were 359 permanent employees in the Scottish Government core directorates at 31 March 2010 whose full-time base equivalent salary was in excess of an MSP’s salary. Of these, four had a base salary in excess of the First Minister’s combined salary.

  Beyond that data already published and in relation to "other taxpayer-funded organisations", the information requested is not held centrally and could only be collected at disproportionate cost.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all operating windfarms in Scotland, showing each windfarm’s annual (a) forecast generated output and (b) actual generated output, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Mather: A table of all operational windfarms by local authority area and their theoretical annual generated output is attached. Energy companies consider information on individual windfarms’ actual generated output to be commercially sensitive and do not release this data. The actual cumulative Scottish total from official statistics on total generation output from wind in Scotland in 2008 was 3,330 GigawattHours.

  

 Project Name
 Local Authority
 Capacity (MWe)
 Theoretical Annual Generated Output (MWHours)


 Lochhead Farm, Stonehouse
 South Lanarkshire
 6.15
 16,162.2


 Fairburn, Strathconon
 Highland
 40
 105,120


Beinn nan Oighrean (aka Struie)
 Highland
 4.6
 12,088.8


 Stirkoke (Achairn)
 Highland
 6
 15,768


 Dun Law 2 - extension
 Scottish Borders
 29.75
 78,183


 Longpark Wind Farm
 Scottish Borders
 38
 99,864


 Clachan Flats (Arkinglas)
 Argyll and Bute
 15
 39,420


 Glens of Foudland
 Aberdeenshire
 27.3
 71,744.4


 Dummuie, Drumblade
 Aberdeenshire
 10.4
 27,331.2


 Boyndie Airfield
 Aberdeenshire
 14
 36,792


 Mackie’s of Scotland
 Aberdeenshire
 0.85
 2,233.8


 Hill of Burns
 Aberdeenshire
 0.9
 2,365.2


 Deucheran Hill (from Cruach Nan Gaber)
 Argyll and Bute
 15.75
 ,41391


 Achamore House
 Argyll and Bute
 0.675
 1,773.9


 Beinn Ghlas
 Argyll and Bute
 8.4
 22,075.2


 Beinn an Tuirc & Cnoc Don Arnicle
 Argyll and Bute
 30
 78,840


 Cruach Mhor
 Argyll and Bute
 30
 78,840


 Tangy
 Argyll and Bute
 12.75
 33,507


 Isle of Luing Wind Energy Scheme
 Argyll and Bute
 0.1
 262.8


 Dalswinton
 Dumfries and Galloway
 30
 78,840


 Minsca Farm
 Dumfries and Galloway
 36.8
 96,710.4


 Craig Wind Farm / Carlsgill Hill
 Dumfries and Galloway
 10
 26,280


 Windy Standard (Gallow Rig & Polwhat Rig)
 Dumfries and Galloway
 21.6
 56,764.8


 Wether Hill
 Dumfries and Galloway
 18.2
 47,829.6


 Artfield Fell
 Dumfries and Galloway
 20
 52,560


 Michelin Wind Turbines
 Dundee
 4
 10,512


 Hare Hill
 East Ayrshire
 13.2
 34,689.6


 Hall Hill
 East Lothian
 0.1
 262.8


 Myres Hill
 East Renfrewshire
 1.9
 4,993.2


 Boulfruich
 Highland
 12
 31,536


 Millennium (Glenmoriston)
 Highland
 40
 105,120


 Kilbraur (Strath Brora) Wind Farm
 Highland
 47.5
 124,830


 Causeymire
 Highland
 48.3
 126,932.4


 Causeymire extension
 Highland
 6.7
 17,607.6


 Farr Wind Farm
 Highland
 92
 241,776


 Novar (Bendeallt and Meall an Tuirc)
 Highland
 17
 44,676


 Ben Aketil
 Highland
 23
 60,444


 Forss
 Highland
 2
 5,256


 Forss II - extension
 Highland
 5.2
 13,665.6


 Beinn Tharsuinn
 Highland
 29
 76,212


 Findhorn Foundation 2
 Moray
 0.75
 1,971


 Paul’s Hill
 Moray
 56
 147,168


 Paul’s Hill extension
 Moray
 9
 23,652


 Rothes Wind (Cairn Uish)
 Moray
 50.6
 132,976.8


 Findhorn Foundation 1
 Moray
 0.08
 210.24


 Ardrossan
 North Ayrshire
 24
 63,072


 Ardrossan 2
 North Ayrshire
 6
 15,768


 Wardlaw Wood
 North Ayrshire
 18
 47,304


 Bu Farm
 Orkney
 2.3
 6,044.4


 WWB Burgar Hill
 Orkney
 5
 13,140


 Burray
 Orkney
 0.9
 2,365.2


 Spurness Point
 Orkney
 8.25
 21,681


 Thorfinn (Burgar Hill)
 Orkney
 2.7
 7,095.6


 Thorfinn (Burgar Hill)
 Orkney
 1.5
 3,942


 Sigurd (Burgar Hill)
 Orkney
 1.3
 3,416.4


 Green Knowes
 Perth and Kinross
 27
 70,956


 Drumderg
 Perth and Kinross
 36.8
 96,710.4


 Bowbeat Hill (Emly Bank & Roughside Hill)
 Scottish Borders
 31.2
 81,993.6


 Crystal Rig 1A
 Scottish Borders
 12.5
 32,850


 Crystal Rig
 Scottish Borders
 50
 131,400


 Black Hill
 Scottish Borders
 28.6
 75,160.8


 Dun Law
 Scottish Borders
 17.16
 45,096.48


 Fair Isle
 Shetland
 0.16
 420.48


 Burradale (1 & 2)
 Shetland
 3.7
 9,723.6


 Hadyard Hill
 South Ayrshire
 120
 31,5360


 East Kilbride Wind Turbine (Sainsbury’s)
 South Lanarkshire
 0.605
 1,589.94


 Black Law Wind Farm ‘A’
 South Lanarkshire
 92
 241,776


 Black Law Wind Farm ‘B’
 South Lanarkshire
 27.6
 72,532.8


 Hagshaw Hill (S10&S15)
 South Lanarkshire
 15.6
 40,996.8


 Braes O’ Doune Wind Farm
 Stirling
 72
 189,216


 Fintry Community Wind Turbine
 Stirling
 2.75
 7,227


 Earlsburn
 Stirling
 32.5
 85,410


 Liniclate School
 Western Isles
 0.06
 157.68


 Arnish Moor
 Western Isles
 3.9
 10,249.2


 Millennium Extension
 Highland
 10
 26,280


 Greendykes
 North Lanarkshire
 4
 10,512


 Xcite Bathgate Sports Centre
 West Lothian
 0.1
 262.8


 Bilbster (Flex Hill / Watten)
 Highland
 3.9
 10,249.2


 Whitelee Wind Farm / Eaglesham
 East Ayrshire
 322
 846,216


 Aikengall
 East Lothian
 48
 126,144

Renewable Energy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications it has received for support from the WATERS marine energy scheme; who made these applications; what the total support sought by each applicant is, and what companies have been successful in the first sift of such applications by Scottish Enterprise.

Jim Mather: The £12 million WATERS fund is being managed by Scottish Enterprise, who have provided the following information.

  Thirty-one applications, totalling £74 million were received for support from the WATERS marine energy fund, making this an extremely competitive process. The applicants are:

  Aquamarine Power

  Open Hydro

  ScotRenewables

  AWS Ocean

  Oceanlink UK Ltd

  Scottish Power Renewables

  RWE Npower Renewables

  MacTaggart Scott

  Prospect Flow Solutions Ltd

  Nautricity Ltd

  Ocean Flow Energy

  Green Ocean Energy

  Triden Energy Ltd

  Fred Olsen Ltd

  Lunar Energy Power Ltd

  Firth Tidal Energy Ltd

  Ocean Power Technologies

  Swan Turbines

  Pulse Tidal

  Nova Innovation Ltd

  AlbaTERN

  Ocean Navitas

  Innova Ltd

  Pelamis Wave Power Ltd

  Current2Current Ltd

  Ferrier Pumps

  Sintenergy

  A&W Sinclair

  Applied Technologies Company

  SDE Energy

  Nautilus Wave Energy.

  A total of 11 applicants were selected to proceed to the next stage of more detailed diligence and Economic Impact Assessment (EIA). As that selection process is still ongoing, it would not be prudent to provide any further details at this time. The intention is that the awards will be confirmed and announced early in July 2010, at which time Scottish Enterprise will be happy to provide more detailed information.

Scottish Government Consultations

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines exist for the management of public and stakeholder consultations.

Bruce Crawford: Consultation good practice guidance can be found on the consultations page of Scottish Government website, at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/About

Teachers

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has the legal power to prohibit members of organisations such as the British National Party from holding public service posts including that of classroom teacher.

Michael Russell: The General Teaching Council Scotland Code of Professionalism and Conduct states that teachers must not be prejudiced in their views about learners lifestyle, culture, disability, beliefs, colour, gender, language, sexuality or age. If a teacher breached the Code the Council could take action to remove them from the register.

  A similar arrangement is in place for the police force where the Police (Scotland) Regulations 2004 require members of the police to at all times abstain from any activity which is likely to interfere with the impartial discharge of that member’s duties or which is likely to give rise to the impression amongst members of the public that it may so interfere, and in particular a member of a police force shall not take any active part in politics.

  Of course this is a complex issue and any use of the Scottish Government’s powers in this area would require to take into account human rights standards, employment law and potentially also the boundary between reserved and devolved powers.

Teachers

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any members of the British National Party who are currently employed as classroom teachers in Scottish schools.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is not aware of any members of the British National Party who are currently employed as classroom teachers in Scottish schools.

Tourism

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many overnight visits to Scotland have been made by UK residents living outside Scotland in each year since 2001.

Jim Mather: The following table provides information on overnight visits to Scotland by UK residents living outside Scotland each year since 2005. Earlier data is not included as explained in the footnotes.

  Overnight Visits in Scotland by UK Residents, 2005-09 (Millions)

  

 
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 2009


 Scotland
 6.75
 6.35
 6.23
 5.84
 5.85


 Wales
 0.36
 0.15
 0.18
 0.21
 0.19


 N. Ireland
 0.54
 0.38
 0.42
 0.36
 0.42


 England
 7.23
 6.40
 6.29
 5.74
 6.01


 Total
 14.87
 13.28
 13.12
 12.15
 12.47


 UK residents living outside Scotland
 8.13
 6.93
 6.89
 6.31
 6.62



  Source: UK Tourism Survey.

  Notes:

  1. The UK Tourism Survey underwent a methodology change in May 2005, with the survey moving from a telephone survey to a face-to-face survey. The change was made because of serious doubts about the reliability of the survey data being produced by the telephone survey methodology.

  2. Due to this unreliability, data for years before 2005 have not been included.

Tourism

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of Scottish tourism has been in each year since 2001.

Jim Mather: The following table provides information on the value of Scottish tourism each year since 2005. Earlier data is not included as explained in the footnotes.

  Expenditure by Overnight Tourists in Scotland, 2005-09 (£ Million)

  

 
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 2009P


 UK residents
 3,006 
 2,720 
 2,836 
 2,812 
 2,736 


 Overseas residents
 1,208 
 1,439 
 1,367 
 1,241 
 1,359 


 Total
 4,214 
 4,159 
 4,203 
 4,053 
 4,095 



  Source: International Passenger Survey, UK Tourism Survey.

  Notes:

  1. 2009 figures are provisional

  2. The UK Tourism Survey underwent a methodology change in May 2005, with the survey moving from a telephone survey to a face-to-face survey. The change was made because of serious doubts about the reliability of the survey data being produced by the telephone survey methodology.

  3. In 2005, the Office for National Statistics changed the methodology of the International Passenger Survey by adding Prestwick and Liverpool airports as survey sampling points. This did not change the total UK estimates, but had a significant effect on the Scottish figures.

  4. Due to the unreliability of the UK Tourism Survey data before 2005, and the effect of the methodology change in the International Passenger Survey in 2005, data for years before 2005 have not been included.

Voluntary Organisations

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides to local authorities in the West of Scotland for befriending services for (a) adults and (b) young people.

John Swinney: In the context of our agreement with local authorities that decisions on funding for local services are best made at a local level, no direct Scottish Government assistance is provided to local authorities specifically for befriending, or most other local, services.

Wildlife

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33201 by Richard Lochhead on 30 April 2010, what it understands the natural world range of the (a) pheasant and (b) red-legged partridge to be.

Roseanna Cunningham: The common pheasant (phasianus colchicus) is understood to be native to parts of Asia. The common pheasant has been widely introduced throughout the world for sporting purposes and has been breeding in the UK in the wild for centuries.

  The red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) is understood to be native to southern Europe, including France, Spain and Portugal. It has been widely released in the UK for sporting purposes. Some red-legged partridges do breed in the wild in Scotland, although it is doubtful whether the population would be self-sustaining without further releases.

Wildlife

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33201 by Richard Lochhead on 30 April 2010, whether it considers black francolin to be a naturally occurring species in Great Britain and, if not, for what reasons the provisions of Article 11 of the EU Directive on Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) should not apply to it.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not consider black francolin to be a naturally occurring species in Great Britain. We expect Article 11 of the EU Directive on Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) would apply to any introduction of black francolin, although this is ultimately a matter for the courts. Domestic provisions to control harmful releases of species in the wild would apply, if appropriate.

Wildlife

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33201 by Richard Lochhead on 30 April 2010, whether it considers grey squirrel, American mink and Canada goose to be naturally occurring in the United Kingdom.

Roseanna Cunningham: The question refers to a previous answer (S3W-33201) concerning provisions of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), which is relevant to Canada goose. Canada goose is included on the European Commission’s list of bird species of the European Union as an accidental visitor and as having an artificially introduced breeding population. Whether this could be considered as "naturally occurring" for the purposes of the provisions of the Birds Directive could be a matter for the courts to determine. We are not aware of any case law to inform a view on this. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/eu_species/voous_en.htm .

  Grey squirrel and American mink are invasive non-native species which were also introduced artificially into the EU and are regular breeders in the wild.

  Provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 enable the Scottish Ministers to regulate the introduction into the wild of any species where appropriate.